Jason Momoa Breaks Down His Five Favorite Movies Of All Time

Jason Momoa is known for his rugged roles and larger-than-life personality, but his taste in cinema reveals a deep appreciation for intense, character-driven dramas and visionary directing.

During a sit-down with Rotten Tomatoes, the actor pulled back the curtain on the films that shaped his world, starting with a heavy dose of admiration for Jack Nicholson. Momoa pointed to Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 classic The Shining as a primary influence, describing Nicholson as a performer who stands in a league of his own.

The actor struggled to find the exact words to capture Nicholson’s impact but made his admiration clear. He’s a god to me. I love him. I don’t know how to properly explain why, but he’s just fantastic, Momoa shared. He specifically noted the actor’s unique blend of humor, intensity, and charm, asserting that there’s only one Jack.

Moving from psychological horror to historical epic, Momoa highlighted The Last of the Mohicans as his favorite movie from his childhood. He praised the film’s atmosphere and specifically noted that the soundtrack remains one of his favorites in the world.

His love for transformative performances led him to praise Daniel Day-Lewis, specifically his role as Bill the Butcher. If you watched Gangs of New York, it sucked, but then you see him as Bill the Butcher, it’s unbelievable, he remarked.

The actor also revealed a fascination with the “mad genius” of Terry Gilliam, specifically regarding the 1998 adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Momoa expressed awe at how Gilliam managed to bring such a difficult book to life on the screen. Terry Gilliam is phenomenal. I love Terry Gilliam, I just love his mind, he said, marveling at the director’s ability to create such trippy visuals without the influence of substances.

Rounding out his list was the gritty 1978 prison drama Midnight Express, which Momoa grouped with John Cassavetes’ A Woman Under the Influence as films that changed his perception of the medium. He explained that these movies felt so real that the artifice of filmmaking completely disappeared. That is not a movie. You do not see anyone going, ‘Cut! I’ll be in my f**** trailer!’ You watch that s***, and you are like, you are in that, he explained, concluding that it represents truly great filmmaking.

As of early 2026, Jason Momoa is keeping a packed schedule following the release of Minecraft, where he stars as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison alongside Jack Black. The film has been a massive family hit, dominating the box office throughout the month. He is also set to return to the Fast & Furious universe, reprising his role as the flamboyant villain Dante Reyes in the franchise’s final main installment.

Looking ahead, Momoa is moving into more creative control with his upcoming project, Chief of War, a limited series for Apple TV+ that he co-created, co-wrote, and stars in. The historical drama focuses on the unification of the Hawaiian Islands from an indigenous perspective, a subject very close to the actor’s heart.

Do you think Jason Momoa’s list of favorites explains his own intense acting style, or are you surprised by some of the classic dramas he chose over action movies? Share your thoughts in the comments.